Black Coalition: Fight With Ballots Instead Of Bullets

Grass roots THE PEOPLE SPEAK - This is one in an occasional series of reports in which Central Florida residents discuss what is on their minds in this election year. Today: Taking an oath to make a difference.

May 3, 1992|By Mike Oliver of The Sentinel Staff

Eighteen-year-old Monica Armstrong stood next to a trash can in front of the Rio Grande Mini Mart and raised her right hand.

''I do solemnly swear that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. . . .''

She listened as the Rev. Sam Hoard administered the oath. Two young men walked by with six-packs of beer and stared. Someone at the gas pump, agitated, yelled to the store owner to turn the pump on.

'' . . . and that I am qualified to register as an elector under the constitution and laws of the state of Florida. . . .''

No sooner had the 65-year-old pastor and Orlando community activist filled out a temporary voter's card than Armstrong's mother, Sylvia Armstrong, walked up and asked to be registered.

''I've been wanting to,'' the older Armstrong said with a shrug.

The daughter, a recent high school graduate who said her goal was to work in a day-care center, said, ''I want to make a difference.''

For more than four hours Saturday morning, Hoard, Susan King, Lisa Baldwin and Kathy Shuler volunteered to register people in front of the busy convenience store at 29th Street and Rio Grande Avenue in west Orlando. It was one of 25 registration stations set up Saturday by the Orange County Political Coalition, a black advocacy group, with support from other organizations that hope to boost black registration.

The coalition has been doing this during election years for about a decade and has a goal of 5,000 new voters during this election year, said James Mitchell, the group's chairman.

''Let's fight with ballots not bullets,'' Hoard said to more than one of the unconvinced on this hot Saturday.

''Are you doing this because of Rodney King?'' asked Charles Gaskin, a student at Valencia Community College.

Mae Steger, founder of Mothers Against Crack Cocaine, walked by and encouraged Hoard and the volunteers.

''We need to serve on these juries,'' said the popular community activist, referring to the fact that potential jurors are gleaned from voter rolls. ''An all-white jury in that King case just wasn't right for justice.''

For 27-year-old Patrick Walker, it was the first time he's ever registered to vote.

''I was always told that if you don't vote you shouldn't complain,'' Walker said with a smile. ''Now, I'm ready to complain.''

''I feel like nothing has changed,'' said 43-year-old James Williams, who also registered. He said he's recently had his civil rights restored after a felony conviction earlier in his life. ''If we vote, if we get the right person in office, we can make a change.''

A man carrying a large piece of plastic over his shoulder, and a beer in a brown paper bag in his hand, asked Hoard for a cigarette. Hoard told the man smoking was bad for him. Another man lay sprawled, apparently asleep, in the grass across the street next to the vegetable market.

Two young men who turned down Hoard's offer to register to vote flashed a bit of anger when asked why.

''Just look around you,'' one said. ''What's being done, here? It's all the same. Nothing's changed. That's all I have to say.''